National Leaders to Share Best Practices on “Proof of Concept Center” Model

November 14th Symposium Open to Hawaii’s Business and Community Members

HONOLULU—As the state looks at innovative ventures to grow Hawaii’s economy, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) will be holding a symposium on Thursday, November 14 that will focus on the “Proof of Concept Center” model, a combination mentorship-and-investment program that has proven to fast track the lab-to-market process.

“The most vibrant economies have active startup ecosystems that are stimulated by research commercialization activities,” said Richard Lim, director of DBEDT. “We need a Proof of Concept Center in Hawaii to provide innovators a way to bring their ideas to the marketplace.”

“This type of activity creates opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators to capitalize on new inventions,” said Karl Fooks, president of DBEDT’s Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation (HSDC). “Many of these inventions could lead to new businesses that could, in turn, generate high paying jobs here in the islands.”

Open to the public, the symposium will feature three leaders of nationally-recognized research commercialization programs – Lisa Delp from the Innovation Fund America, Dr. Rosibel Ochoa from the von Liebig Entrepreneurism Center of UC San Diego, and Blair Duncan from Emergent Technologies.

Hosted jointly by HSDC and HTDC, the symposium will be held on Thursday, November 14 from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the Pacific Guardian Center’s Makai Tower Conference Center, Ground Level. The event’s fee is $35 and registration is required. To register, sign up online at higrowth-pcc.eventbrite.com. Contact HSDC at 587-3832 for more information.